U.S. patent application number 10/016101 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for virtual cashier.
Invention is credited to Duphily, Michele R..
Application Number | 20050033645 10/016101 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34118092 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050033645 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duphily, Michele R. |
February 10, 2005 |
Virtual cashier
Abstract
This invention pertains to a method and apparatus that prepaid
cards or similar mechanisms to identify money accounts from which
payment can be made to merchants and others via electronic
transfer, particularly thorough communication transmitted over the
Internet. The invention can allow electronic transfer of money
without disclosure of individual identity or financial information.
The apparatus can accept cash or other forms of payment that can be
then transferred via an Internet site, permitting the merchant to
receive payment directly from the entity maintaining the Internet
site. The operator of the Internet site (Internet portal) will
undertake collection and accounting of payments received from
individual users or purchasers. The invention also comprises an
apparatus that can be utilized to provide Internet access to the
public similar to a public telephone and ability to conduct
financial transactions over the Internet similar to an ATM.
Inventors: |
Duphily, Michele R.;
(Portland, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF DAVID MCEWING
P.O. BOX 231324
HOUSTON
TX
77023
US
|
Family ID: |
34118092 |
Appl. No.: |
10/016101 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60244495 |
Oct 31, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/00 20130101;
G06Q 20/02 20130101; G06Q 20/16 20130101; G06Q 30/04 20130101; G06Q
20/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/016 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A method of purchasing goods and services through the Internet
comprising: a. accessing an Internet website containing a listing
merchandise and services that can be purchased by communication
through the Internet, b. inputting the selection of the merchandise
and services for purchase and a prepaid card identifier, c.
transmitting the selection and prepaid card identifier, d.
obtaining verification that a monetary account represented by the
prepaid card contains a monetary balance at least equal to the
value of the merchandise and services selected, e. transferring the
monetary value of the selected merchandise and services from the
account to the vendor, and f. obtaining the purchased merchandise
and service.
2. The method of claim one further comprising an internet website
communicating the purchaser's selection to the vendor, issuing
payment to the vendor and obtaining payment from the monetary
account the prepaid card identifier communicated to the internet
website by the purchaser.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the ability of the
purchaser to pay the purchase price in installments.
4. The method of claim 1 or 2 further comprising the Internet
website issuing payment to creditors of the purchaser and obtaining
payment from the monetary account represented by the prepaid card
identifier communicated to the Internet website by the
purchaser.
5. The method of claim 1 or 2 further comprising the Internet
website issuing payment to creditors of the purchaser and obtaining
payment from a combination of deduction from the monetary account
represented by the prepaid card identifier communicated to the
Internet website by the purchaser, payment of cash, check or credit
card. or similar device.
6. The method of claims one or two wherein an entity maintaining
the Internet website also holds the monetary account represented by
the prepaid card identifier.
7. The method of claims one or two wherein the entity maintaining
the Internet website also is the entity issuing prepaid cards.
8. An apparatus comprising; a. a video monitor, b. a CPU, c. an
Internet connection for receipt and transmission of information,
and d. a device that can accept the deposit of currency, compute
the amount of the currency deposited, and communicate the amount
deposited via the Internet.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a device for reading
the electronically encoded information.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for reading
bar coded information.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a keyboard,
12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a computer
mouse.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a mechanism for
moving cursor on the video screen and activating icons, visual
links or instructions placed on the video screen.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a mechanism for
recording the identity of the individual using the apparatus.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mechanism for recording
the identity of the user comprises an apparatus that records at
least one finger print.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the finger print recording
mechanism is incorporated into the screen of the video monitor.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising the capability to
video record the user of the apparatus wherein the user and the
finger print recording mechanism are video recorded.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
application Ser. No. 60/224,495 entitled "Virtual Cashier" and
filed Oct. 31, 2000.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The invention subject of this application pertains to a
business method for utilizing various payment mechanisms for
business or consumer transactions including, but not limited to,
purchases of goods and services via electronic medium. Electronic
medium may include, but is not limited to, the Internet, telephone,
radio, cable (such as cable TV), digital and satellite
communication systems (such as TV's, pagers and phones) as well as
all types of hand held computing devices. Although this invention
is not limited to the Internet, all methods of electronic
transmissions will be referred to herein as the Internet. The
method may be utilized in conjunction with computer software. The
invention also pertains to an apparatus that can be used by
purchasers desiring to utilize the Internet to make purchases. The
method allows purchases through the Internet with or without credit
cards yet provides merchants with the same assurances of payment at
the time the transaction is entered into. The apparatus subject of
this invention is capable of accepting cash or electronic
payment.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Electronic or electronically readable payment cards have
long been utilized in commerce. Information has been encoded on
magnetic strips placed on credit cards to allow rapid and automated
verification of the credit card and account status as part of each
transaction. Electronic scanners have been utilized that access
consumer personal financial account information and require no
direct merchant activity. This is experienced almost daily when
purchasing gas by credit card or debit card.
[0006] Individual merchants also issue prepaid cards allowing the
purchase of goods or services at a later time or different
location. Prepaid merchant cards may also be readily transferable
and given as gifts. Prepaid telephone cards are also known. These
actuated telephone cards can be purchased through vending machines.
They permit the user to a certain amount of time for toll telephone
charges. Prepaid Internet access accounts have also been utilized.
These prepaid accounts, established with an Internet Service
Provider (ISP), allow the user a specified time of Internet
access.
[0007] However, prepaid cards do not permit the user to purchase
any goods or services through the Internet with multiple vendors
and multiple locations. They also do not allow refund or transfer
of unspent balances. There is also not a systematic method of
locating merchants or other providers of goods and services that
will accept such payment mediums. There is also not a mechanism for
pubic accesses to the Internet for purchase of goods and services,
gaming, or other items in a manner similar to public access to the
telephone network or, more recently, banking services via ATMs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention subject of this application pertains to a
business method for utilizing various payment mechanisms for
business or consumer transactions including, but not limited to,
purchase of goods and services via electronic medium. Electronic
medium may include, but is not limited to the Internet, telephone,
radio, cable (such as cable TV) or digital and satellite
communication systems. Although this invention is not limited to
the Internet, all methods of electronic transmission will be
referred to herein as the Internet. More specifically, it pertains
to a systematic and comprehensive method of dispensing cards or
other tangible medium that represents a prepaid monetary accounts
that may be accessed only through the use of the card (hereinafter
termed "prepaid card", "Virtual Cashier card" or "V-C card"). The
account can not be accessed except by conveying the card or card
identifier specific to that account. This prepaid card system can
also allow a merchant or service provider to directly verify with
the holding or possessing access to the money within the account
represented by the V-C card that payment for any good or service
will be made.
[0009] The method subject of this invention incorporates a
plurality of steps. All steps are not required and some of the
steps or elements of the business method may be substituted for
other steps.
[0010] It is therefore a goal of the present invention to allow
persons (hereinafter deemed to include businesses) without credit
cards to purchase goods and services through the Internet.
[0011] It is yet another goal of the present invention to allow
persons to make purchases through the Internet that are unwilling
to disclose credit card or other personal financial account
information on the Internet.
[0012] It is another goal of the present invention to provide a
portal through which prospective purchasers of goods and services
utilizing VC cards, conventional credit cards or other forms of
prepaid electronic payment cards may be linked to providers of
goods and services that accept such payment medium.
[0013] It is another goal of the present invention to allow persons
to electronically make installment payments in the purchase of
goods and services without credit cards or access to other forms of
credit.
[0014] It is another goal of the present invention to allow persons
to make installment payments in the purchase of goods and services
without disclosing credit card or other personal financial
information.
[0015] It is yet another goal of the invention to provide a
business method that will give merchants prompt and reliable
assurance that payment will be made for transactions with unknown
or unidentified purchasers and without use of credit cards, bank
debit cards or the prepaid individual merchant cards.
[0016] It is another goal to provide a portal or mechanism through
which a purchaser may select merchandise or services through the
Internet and the conveyance of the purchase price being made to the
merchant by the entity maintaining the portal ("portal operator")
in exchange for deduction of a comparable or related monetary value
from an existing monetary account or fund established by the
purchaser and possessed by or accessible to the portal
operator.
[0017] It is another goal of the invention to provide merchants
with payment for completed transactions within an amount of time
comparable to the amount of time for merchants to receive payment
on credit card purchases.
[0018] It is yet another goal of the invention to provide an
apparatus that can accept the payment in the form of cash tendered
by a purchaser in a transaction conducted via the Internet and that
the monetary amount representative of the value of the cash can be
electronically conveyed to a merchant or credited to a payment made
by the portal operator directly to the merchant.
[0019] It is still another goal of the invention to provide an
apparatus for that can receive prepaid account cards such as the
V-C card or comparable card issued by other entities.
[0020] It is yet another goal of invention to provide an apparatus
that can verify the validity of prepaid cards, credit cards or bank
debit cards for the merchants that are not otherwise equipped or
registered to accept credit cards or similar devices.
[0021] It is yet another goal of the invention to provide an
apparatus that will allow purchasers to shop or make other payment
through the Internet utilizing public internet terminals without
disclosing, by 'swiping" or otherwise, information contained on
credit cards, debit cards or other financial or personal
identifying information
[0022] It is yet another goal of the invention to provide an
internet forum or portal for merchants to list products, services,
special offerings, information or links to their own web sites.
This portal may be readily accessed to by consumers at the machine
subject of this invention that will accept a wide variety of
payment medium, including but not limited to credit card, bank
debit card, prepaid V-C Cards or cash.
[0023] It is yet another goal of the invention to provide an
apparatus for accessing to the Internet that allows the identity of
the user to be recorded or verified by means other than
transmission of financial or related personal information, e.g.,
social security number, credit card numbers or bank account
numbers.
SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of the business method
subject of this invention.
[0025] FIG. 1B illustrates the flow and interface of information in
one embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the information process that may
be conducted in an embodiment of the subject invention.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention showing
the options available to a consumer utilizing the subject
invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates options available to merchants utilizing
the subject invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate other embodiments of the
invention utilized in conjunction with alternative payment
mechanisms.
[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates the processing of information for
account reporting.
[0033] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the processing of information for
functions selected by a consumer utilizing the invention.
[0034] FIGS. 14, 15 and 17 illustrate the processing of information
utilized for transferring money from one consumer to another
through an embodiment of the invention.
[0035] The above general descriptions and the following detailed
descriptions are merely illustrative of the generic invention and
additional modes, advantages, and particulars of this invention
will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The present invention pertains to a business method for
utilizing various forms of payment mechanisms for business or
consumer transactions, including but not limited to the purchase of
goods and service through various electronic media, hereinafter
termed the Internet.
[0037] The prospective purchaser can access the Internet by
conventional means or through a stand-alone device also claimed as
part of the present invention. Through the Internet, the
prospective purchaser (hereinafter "purchaser") accesses the
Virtual Cashier Web Portal ("Internet portal") subject of the
invention. The Internet portal can include an Internet website
containing categorized links to participating merchant websites
accepting payment by V-C Cards or similar prepaid cards as forms of
electronic payment so that a purchaser can readily locating
merchant accepting this type of payment. FIG. 1A illustrates
payment options that may be available to the purchaser via this
Internet portal. It will be readily appreciated that the use of the
"Virtual Cashier Stand-Alone Interface Device 105 (or "Internet
terminal") will allow the purchaser 101 to utilize multiple payment
mechanisms, including direct deposit of cash currency 102, credit
cards 104 or the Virtual Cashier Card ("prepaid card") 103.
Alternatively, the purchaser may utilize conventional electronic
payment mechanisms, as well as the prepaid cards, though the
"Virtual Cashier Web-Portal Access" 106 (Internet portal) from a
personal computer connected to the Internet. It will also be
appreciated after reading the description of this invention that
the various options 107, 108, 109 and 110 are only limited examples
of activities that can be undertaken utilizing a prepaid card with
the Internet portal.
[0038] FIG. 1B illustrates the interrelationship between various
components that can be incorporated into the subject invention. The
Virtual Cashier Internal Processing 121 is a function performed by
the Internet portal operator. This includes the accounting of
various prepaid accounts, matching the accounts with PIN numbers or
prepaid card numbers ("prepaid card identifiers") as part of V-C
Card validation, processing payments to merchants from separate
prepaid accounts, computing and withholding transaction fees, etc.
This relationship can also include maintaining actual Internet
terminals 105 that may be accessible to the public or to
individuals, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 122, as well as the
liaison and marketing to both merchants 124 and purchasers 125.
Note also that the invention incorporates any form of distribution
and vending of prepaid cards 126.
[0039] As discussed, one feature of the invention is Virtual
Cashier Interface Devices (Internet terminals) 105 could be placed
in locations such as libraries, transportation terminals, coffee
shop, bars, etc., thereby bringing instant access to Internet
services to people away from their personal computers. In this
manner, the Virtual Cashier Interface Device may resemble a public
telephone or ATM. However, as will be appreciated after thorough
understanding of this description, the subject invention includes
security features not contained in other devices.
[0040] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate embodiments of the process
steps included in the instant invention. Note that the purchaser
begins by accessing the Internet, either via a personal computer as
in FIG. 2A or a stand alone Virtual Cashier Interface Device 105 in
FIG. 2B and used to access the Virtual Cashier Web Portal Assess
106 ("Internet portal" or "Web Portal"). Alternative steps or
embodiments of the process may include the following:
[0041] 1. Purchaser accesses the Internet via computer or Virtual
Cashier Interface Device;
[0042] 2. Purchaser logs on to the Internet page or website of the
Virtual Cashier Web Page (Web Portal),
[0043] 3. Consumer selects activities from menu;
[0044] (Option: If Consumer selects icon or menu button for goods
and services, the Consumer can elect to proceed to a to a specific
merchant site or selected Virtual Cashier page containing
identified group of goods or services.)
[0045] 4. Quantity and availability of identified goods are
confirmed (at either the Virtual Cashier Web Portal or via specific
merchant website) 204.
[0046] 5. Price is confirmed.
[0047] 6. Consumer selects method of payment.
[0048] 7. Virtual Cashier Web Portal, either directly with Consumer
or through a separate link with the merchant's web site, verifies
receipt of payment and credits merchant account
[0049] 8. User gives instructions for delivery of goods or services
213.
[0050] 9. User receives confirmation of transaction (confirmation
number or printed receipt) 215.
[0051] If the Consumer selects an alternate option, e.g., gaming,
movie or similar activity available on a time charge or toll basis,
payment can be made via the several options, including VC cards
("pre-paid cards"), credit cards, or cash. Note that these payment
methods and the Virtual Cashier Web Portal may also be utilized via
other mechanisms that provide Internet access, including portable
mechanisms such as hand held computing devices, digital and
cellular phones, pagers or similar devices. It is also contemplated
that terminals can be captive of only selected sites, such as the
Web Portal, perhaps combined with general information sites such as
news and weather.
[0052] FIG. 2B also illustrates optional security checks that may
be particularly useful when conventional credit or debit cards are
utilized 274 and 275. It will further be appreciated that the
sequence of steps set forth in FIGS. 2A and 2B are for illustration
only and are not limitations of the invention.
[0053] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate some of the options available to
the Consumer via the Virtual Cashier Portal Access site 106 subject
of this invention. FIG. 5 illustrates the information and activity
options available to Merchants participating in the Virtual Cashier
Web Portal. Note FIG. 6 illustrates a more limited range of options
that may be available to the Merchant via the Wireless Merchant
Access Services. The method is further illustrated in FIGS. 7
through 10.
[0054] FIGS. 11 through 13 provide expanded explanation of process
steps that may be utilized in a Consumer or Merchant transaction.
Note for example that FIG. 13, Consumer Card Balance Increases 223,
is a step contained within the embodiment of the invention
illustrated in 2A 223 and 2B 223B.
[0055] FIGS. 14, 15 and 17 illustrate an embodiment of the
invention that may be utilized to electronically transfer money
("Buddy Money"), either by deposits of cash or prepaid cards ("V-C
cards"). Note that this allows the transfer of payment or money
without disclosure of banking or similar financial information.
[0056] The invention also includes alternate embodiments of the
Virtual Cashier Interface Device that allows a purchaser to have
access to the Internet or a selected subset of sites or specialized
websites. The apparatus may be located in public places such as
airline terminals, shopping malls, hotel rooms and lobbies, office
buildings, eating and drinking establishments, airplanes, commuter
trains, or similar locations.
[0057] The apparatus may consist of a video screen, a CPU, computer
modem, cable connection, satellite or digital connection, DSL
connection, T-1 connection or other means that allow messages to be
transmitted to and from the user via the Internet. In a preferred
embodiment, the apparatus also contains a keyboard, a mouse or
mouse button, any other type of device that allows the user to
(move icons or cursors to be moved about on) interact with the
computer screen. In other embodiments, the apparatus utilizes a
touch screen that is activated by touch or light. The apparatus may
also have the capability to provide information audibly and respond
to audible commands.
[0058] The apparatus may also have mechanism to accept and
recognize paper currency or coins, compute the value of the coins
and currency inserted into the apparatus and transmit this
information via the Internet. It will be readily appreciated after
acquiring a thorough understanding of the invention that this can
include transfers of money to the Virtual Cashier Wireless Portal
Access (Internet portal website). FIG. 1A illustrates one aspect of
this embodiment. This embodiment also facilitates increasing the
prepaid account in FIGS. 2A, 223 and 2B 223B.
[0059] The apparatus may also have a mechanism to allow information
contained in bar codes scanned into the machine and the information
read and transmitted over the Internet,
* * * * *